Salem School Committee To Interview Superintendent Finalists

The Salem School Committee will interview three finalists for superintendent on March 4 and 5. The three finalists were chosen based on a recommendation by the Superintendent Search Screening Committee.

“I am pleased with the quality and diversity of our finalists,” said Mayor Kim Driscoll, who chairs the School Committee. “Each of these individuals would bring a rich variety of school and district leadership experiences to Salem. I am eager to hear more from them and look forward to appointing a strong partner to work with the School Committee on strengthening our public education system.”

The three finalists are:

Ventura Rodriguez is currently serving as special assistant to the Deputy Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. As Executive Director and Founding Principal of St. HOPE Leadership Academy Charter School in Harlem, New York, he raised the school’s overall performance ranking from the 12th to the 73rd percentile of middle schools in New York City. Mr. Rodriguez also taught and designed curriculum for seven different levels of Spanish classes, from beginning to advanced literature courses at the International School of Kenya in Nairobi, Kenya.

Ayinde Rudolph has extensive experience in school leadership, including serving as head of the Math, Engineering, Technology and Science at Olympic High School and as administrator of Northwest School of the Arts in North Carolina, and as Associate Director, Buffalo Promise Neighborhood, Westminster Community Charter School. Dr. Rudolph was one of 100 educators hosted by President Obama at the #FutureReady Summit.

Margarita Ruiz is serving as Network Superintendent in Boston Public Schools, supervising a network of 16 schools with a population of about 6,900 students, of which about 60% are English language learners. Ms. Ruiz has also served as Principal of Samuel Adams School in East Boston, leading a linguistically, racially diverse school to significant improvements in student achievement.

During their visits to Salem, the candidates will participate in interviews with the School Committee and various stakeholder groups. Each candidate will also participate in a Community Forum, where they will take questions from the public.

The public is invited to attend these events:

Ayinde Rudolph: Community Forum at 5:30 p.m. March 4 at Saltonstall Elementary followed by School Committee interview at 7 p.m. at Collins Middle School.

Photo: Ayinde Rudolph

Ventura Rodriguez: Community Forum at 5:30 p.m. March 5 at Saltonstall Elementary followed by School Committee interview at 7 p.m. at Collins Middle School.

Photo: Ventura Rodriguez

Margarita Ruiz: School Committee interview at 5:30 p.m. March 5 at Collins Middle School followed by Community Forum at 7 p.m. at Saltonstall Elementary School.

Photo: Margarita Ruiz